With its large, U-shaped bar down the middle of the room, the Kit-Kat Tavern was a fixture on Pacific Ave., across the street from the Olympus Hotel, from 1947 to 1971. In this photograph from March of 1952, a large crowd of men and women fills every booth and stool. The Kit-Kat claimed to have the "best draft beer in town", and a large California wine was only 25 cents. TPL-8249

Kit Kat Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma; Bartenders--Tacoma;

The Kit Kat Tavern was celebrating its third anniversary in April, 1954. Overhead view of tavern's interior; all seats seem to be occupied with happy customers. People could enjoy a drink while playing what appears to be a form of bingo. Budweiser, Lucky Lager, and Rainier beers were some of the beers available for purchase. The Kit Kat Tavern was located at 746 Pacific Avenue and owned by Elmer Gardner and Patricia White.

Bars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Kit Kat Tavern (Tacoma);

On a hot summer evening in August of 1919, a visitor to Tacoma could stand at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 9th, looking north, and see the names of two of the city's hotels and a theater light up the sky in electric signs suspended over the street. On the left is the Hotel Donnelly, 742-50 Pacific Ave. The hotel was built in 1887 and leased to John Donnelly, who gave it his name, ten years later. It was demolished in 1925 to make way for the Motoramp Garage. On the right is the Hippodrome Theater at 821-23 Pacific Ave., an office building at 819 Pacific and the Olympus Hotel at 815-17 Pacific. In 1978, the Olympus was converted to apartments. Pedestrians who became weary from walking could hire a taxi at the corner stand or catch a ride the Pacific Avenue streetcar. TPL-4446, BU-13429, Boland-B2166

Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1910-1920; Street railroads--Tacoma--1910-1920; Streets--Tacoma--1910-1920; City & town life--Tacoma--1910-1920; Hippodrome Building (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);

Harry's Billiard Parlor. Two employees stand ready to assist customers at the refreshment bar located within Harry's Billiard Parlor, in the 700 block of Pacific Avenue, on July 11, 1924. Vases filled with flowers are placed on the wood countertop. The open doorway invites entry into the establishment. Harry's Billiard Parlor was celebrating its grand opening in the Donnelly Hotel. Harry Winesburg was the proprietor. TPL-7183; G53.1-095

Harry's Billiard Parlor (Tacoma); Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This is E.N. Dugan's, of the architectural firm Sutton & Whitney, 1922 drawing of the proposed hotel on the Donnelly Hotel site. The Donnelly location, on Pacific at South 9th & Commerce, was one of the 18 sites to be voted upon by the stockholders in the Citizens Hotel Corporation. One site would be chosen to have a long-desired hotel constructed upon it and competition was fierce. The proposed plan by the Sutton & Whitney firm envisioned a 12-floor building with main lobby (44' X 60') entered directly from Pacific Avenue. There would be a ballroom and seven private dining rooms. Various shops would be located at lobby level. To make the site more enticing, Hugh G. Wallace, owner of the Donnelly Hotel site, agreed to purchase the adjoining property from the Loyal Order of Moose. This would add 50 feet on Pacific and Commerce to the site and Mr. Wallace would lease it to the Hotel Corporation. After two votes, the Donnelly site came in third after the Tacoma Hotel and Rhodes sites. The Donnelly Hotel would be demolished in 1925 to make room for the Motoramp Garage. (TNT 9-19-22, p. 22; TNT 9-30-22, p. 1-article; TDL 10-4-22, p. 1-article)

Architectural drawings; Hotels--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Copy of Old Donnelly Hotel, Times, Busselle. This photo was published in the Tacoma Times in September of 1947 to show the street cars that used to run on Pacific Avenue and up 9th Street. In 1947 Tacoma undertook a major project to repave the main "hill" streets in the downtown shopping district. While ripping out the several layers of street surfacing built up since the pioneer days, the power shovels unearthed some of the original ties from the old street car line. The Donnelly Hotel (originally the Fife) stood at the corner of 9th and Pacific from 1897 to 1925. In 1925 it was demolished. The Motoramp Garage was built on the site. (T.Times, 9/17/1947, p.1) TPL-2404.

Hotel Donnelly (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma--1900-1910; Street railroads--Tacoma--1900-1910; Streets--Tacoma--1900-1910; City & town life--Tacoma--1900-1910; Cities & towns;

• Built as the Fife Hotel on the Fife Block in 1887, it was completely remodeled and opened as the Donnelly Hotel in 1898. The building was demolished in 1925. circa 1920.
• Printed on front: Donnelly Hotel, Tacoma, Washington. "Unequalled Location".

Firemen going into Acme Cleaners dragging firehose. A crowd stands outside the Kit Kat Tavern, with Heidelberg and Hamm's neon signage hanging in the window.

Circa 1915.

ca. 1888. This photograph from 1888 shows the Hotel Fife, 742-50 Pacific Ave., as it appeared shortly after it was built. It stood on the north west corner of 9th and Pacific. This photograph is looking up 9th street. There is a horse drawn wagon standing in front of the hotel. The hotel was demolished in 1925. TPL-9660

Hotels--Tacoma--1880-1890; Hotel Fife (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890